Samoana clinches ASHSAA Girls Futsal title

Meet the champions of the 2011-2012 ASHSAA Girls Futsal competition, the Samoana Sharks after defeating SPA Dolphins 7-2 on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Samoana High School.
[FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]

Lilly Tauala helped guide the Samoana Sharks to the 2011-2012 ASHSAA Girls Futsal championship with a four-goal effort against the South Pacific Academy Dolphins on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Samoana High School.

Tauala’s performance helped nab her the Futsal Championship Game MVP in the Sharks’ 7-2 win.

Other awards handed out included the Player of the Year award that went to the Faga’itua Vikings’ Sina Luani while the Coach of the Year trophy went to Samoana’s Lisa Clark.

All trophies were provided by FFAS and handed out by the association’s President Iuli Alex Godinet.

“All of you played great out there today,” Iuli told both teams during the awards presentation. “Keep it up and we are looking forward to seeing you girls come out and play in our association’s upcoming competition.”

Iuli is referring to the Outdoors 5-A-Side competition set to kickoff May 12.

The SPA Dolphins came out fighting hard as they scored less than three minutes into the opening half on Nikki Tolmie’s first of two goals on the day but two minutes after that Tauala struck the equalizer.

Five minutes later Samoana went up for good with Tauala’s second goal and she would complete her hat trick before the end of the first half. Two goals came in the span of 27 seconds when Fuataina Siatu’u scored with 5:58 to play in the half and Tauala added her hat trick-goal with 5:31 to play.

In the second half Samoana coasted to victory with a 3-1 performance to complete the game’s final tally of 7-2.

“We have another competition just around the corner for you girls to play so don’t worry, this is not the last tournament for you,” said FFAS Women’s Development Officer Naomi Oney.

“We want to thank the DOE and its Athletics Department for working with us in completing this second year of having Futsal in the high schools,” said FFAS CEO Tavita Taumua. “We want to thank them for allowing us the use of the gymnasiums and our thanks also go out to South Pacific Academy because they also allowed us use of their gym.

“Our continuing partnership with the DOE is very fruitful for us because a lot of our best young players are these high school boys and girls so again I want to thank them for that.”